By Dr. Toby Nelson, Community Dermatologist and Co-Founder, Map My Mole
This week’s launch of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Beauty and Wellbeing’s UV Safety Inquiry is a welcome and necessary moment for public health.
With melanoma diagnoses rising to 16,000 per year in the UK — and projected to reach 26,500 by 2038 — we urgently need smarter strategies around sun protection, education, and equitable access to care. I commend Carolyn Harris MP and the APPG for shining a national spotlight on this issue and calling on the sector to respond.
But while the media coverage rightly emphasises melanoma, I urge policy-makers and partners not to overlook the quiet epidemic of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) — basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in particular — which, while less deadly, represent the greatest burden on the NHS in terms of case volume and treatment demand.
The inquiry's focus on UV safety as a basic and year-round need is vital. We consistently find that public understanding lags behind the science. Only 35% of people know what SPF means, and many are unaware that UV risk isn’t limited to hot summer days. Educating the public about tools like the UV index, year-round protection, and how to check for changes in their skin is long overdue.
But education without access only shifts the problem.
Awareness alone risks creating pressure on an already overwhelmed NHS. That’s where Map My Mole offers a scalable solution. We place consultant dermatology expertise directly into pharmacies, aesthetic clinics, homes and high-street locations, allowing patients to capture and submit images of concerning lesions with specialist feedback often in under 48 hours.
We believe this kind of community-based, tech-enabled model is essential to easing pressure on GPs and hospitals — while ensuring no one has to wait months for peace of mind.
"If there is going to be an increase in public awareness around signs and skin cancer, you then need to have a workforce that's ready to see these patients. That’s where we can fulfil some hope, because we can deploy our solution to all high streets and quickly access lesions of concern."
— Dr. Toby Nelson, Community Dermatologist and Co-Founder, Map My Mole
We support the inquiry’s emphasis on affordability. When 57% say sunscreen is too expensive, and nearly one-third would wear it daily if it were cheaper, the case for tax relief on SPF products is as much about health equity as it is economics. We also support:
Most importantly, we back greater awareness of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, which are appearing in increasingly younger age groups.
We stand ready to submit written evidence to the inquiry. As a company, we are committed to:
We welcome the APPG’s leadership on this issue — and we hope this inquiry leads to real, tangible reform that protects both patients and the public purse.
Let’s make UV safety a right, not a privilege.
Dr. Toby Nelson
Community Dermatologist
Co-Founder, Map My Mole